Dear faithful object of'my tender care,
Whom but my partial eyes none fancy fair;
May 1 unblamed display rhy social mirth,
Thy modest virtues, and domestic worth:
Thou silent, humble flatterer, yet sincere,
More swayed by love than interest or fear;
Solely to please thy most ambitious view,
As lovers fond, and more than lovers true.
Who can resist those dumb beseeching eyes,
Where genuine eloquence persuasive lies?
Those eyes, where language fails, display thy heart
Beyond the pomp of phrase and pride of art.
Thou safe companion, and almosr a friend,
Whose kind attachment but with life shall end,—
Blest were mankind if many a prouder name
Could boast thy grateful truth and spotless fame!
I am busy working to bring Anna Lætitia Barbauld's "To a Dog" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Anna Lætitia Barbauld's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "To a Dog" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.